_Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days._ Ver. 1. _Cast thy bread._] Thine own well gotten goods. Alms must not be given, said a martyr, _a_ until it have sweat in a man's hand. "Let him labour, working with his hands," saith the apostle, "that he may have to give to... [ Continue Reading ]
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ver. 2. _Give a portion to seven, and also to eight._] A portion - _i.e., _ a good deal, a fair proportion - to a good many; as B. Hooper did to his board of beggars, whom he fed every day by course,... [ Continue Reading ]
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. Ver. 3. _If the clouds be full of rain._] As the sun draws up vapours into the air, not to retain them there, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. Ver. 4. _He that observeth the wind shall not sow._] In sowing of mercy, he that sticks in such objections and doubts as carnal men use to frame out of their covetous and distrustful hearts, neglects his seed... [ Continue Reading ]
As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. Ver. 5. _As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit._] Or, Of the wind, as some render it, grounding upon the fo... [ Continue Reading ]
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good. Ver. 6. _In the morning sow thy seed, &c._] At all times be ready to every good work, Tit 3:1 as the bee is abroad as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun:_ Ver. 7. _Truly the light is sweet._] The light of life, of a lightsome life especially. Any life is sweet; which made the Gibeonites make such a hard shift to live, though it were but to be hewers of wood and... [ Continue Reading ]
But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity. Ver. 8. _But if a man live many years and rejoice, &c., _] _q.d., _ Say he live _pancratice et basilice,_ and sit many years in the world's warm s... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. Ver. 9. _Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth,_] _i.e., _ Do if... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity._ Ver. 10. _Therefore remove sorrow from thine heart._] One would have thought that he should have said rather, considering the premises, remove joy from thy heart, "Let thy laughter be t... [ Continue Reading ]